The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacán, MéxicoDuellman, William Edward
Science
The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacán, México
Duellman, William Edward
Amphibians -- Mexico -- Michoacán de Ocampo; Reptiles -- Mexico -- Michoacán de Ocampo
_Hyla smaragdina_ Taylor, Copeia, No. 1:18, March 30,
1940.--6 kilometers east of Cojumatlán, Michoacán, México.
_Hylella azteca_ Taylor, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 56:49,
June 16, 1943.--Tepoztlán, Morelos, México.
Cojumatlán (30); Copuyo (7); 18 km. E of Dos Aguas (22);
Ostula (8); Pómaro (3); Sahuayo; Salitre de Estopilas (7).
Taylor (1940a:18) diagnosed this species as having few or no vomerine
teeth, no vocal sac, a rather broad and flat head, two large tubercles
below the anus, a granular venter, and a green dorsum in life. The
specimens on which the description was based are either immature or
non-breeding individuals; all were collected from bromeliads growing on
cacti near Cojumatlán. Another small, flat-headed hylid from Tepoztlán,
Morelos, was described and diagnosed by Taylor (1943b:49) as differing
from _Hyla smaragdina_ in having a vocal sac and a broader head. This
specimen was named _Hylella azteca_. Specimens from the coastal region
of Michoacán and Colima were referred to _Hylella azteca_ by Peters
(1954:7) and Duellman (1958c:8).
Comparison of topotypic _Hyla smaragdina_ and the holotype of _Hylella
azteca_ (UIMNH 25044) with the several series of specimens from
Michoacán has resulted in the conclusion that all pertain to only one
species. Although the type series of _Hyla smaragdina_ consists of
immature specimens, the males in that series do possess vocal sacs.
Since these were not breeding individuals, the sacs are not well
developed. The characters of the anal tubercles and the relative width
of the head are of no value in separating the two species. The
apparently aestivating individuals comprising the type series of _Hyla
smaragdina_, and the type of _Hylella azteca_, which also was found in a
bromeliad, were green in life. Of the calling males found on the coast
of Michoacán, most were yellowish tan when found; two were pale green,
but soon changed to pale tan. Calling males from Copuyo and Dos Aguas
were pale yellowish tan. Therefore the color of the dorsum is of little
significance in distinguishing the two named populations.
Males of _Hyla smaragdina_ have been found calling in the months of June
and July from rocky streams; the call is a nasal "haah-haah-haah,"
repeated quickly and constantly for as long as 30 seconds. As pointed
out by Duellman (1958c:9), this breeding behavior is unlike that
suggested by Taylor (1943b:51). In Michoacán _Hyla smaragdina_ has been
found in tropical semi-deciduous forest, oak forest, and
mesquite-grassland at elevations from 150 to 1500 meters.
~Hyla smithi~ Boulenger
_Hyla smithi_ Boulenger, Zool. Rec. Reptilia and Batrachia,
38:33, 1902.--Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
Aguililla (14); Apatzingán (104); Arteaga; Charapendo (5);
Coalcomán (11); El Sabino (44); La Playa (6); Lombardia (2);
Nueva Italia (8); Playa Azul; Salitre de Estopilas (2).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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